PCA Skin Care | Beauty and Fashion Tech

Jan 22, 2013

Makeup Wars, Beauty Products I Repurchase

January 22, 2013 By Carleenp 15 Comments

Everyone has favorite products that they use over and over. When those people are beauty bloggers, it gets interesting. After all, if beauty bloggers use the same thing repeatedly, it must be good right? That is why I am excited to see what everyone comes up with for this edition of Makeup Wars: The beauty products we use over and over again.

Here is my list of the top six things I repurchase:

(1) L’Oreal EverPure Shampoo and Conditioner: This is an easy to find and generally affordable sulfate free shampoo and conditioner. I use sulfate free to help keep my color looking sharp, because I do Keratin straightening, and because sulfates in shampoo cause acne around my hair line. When I am not testing other sulfate free brands for the blog, this is what I buy over and over again. I use the volume version because I have an oily scalp and it seems to work best with that.

(2) Kate Somerville Exfoilkate: I have lost track of how many tubes of Exfolikate I have used. This is my absolute go to exfoliator. It has a gentle scrub and stronger enzyme ingredient that provides both manual and chemical exfoliation. I use it in the shower every couple of days and leave it on my face while I condition my hair. With regular use, it has kept my skin bright and it has helped with my acne. When I have run out without replacing it right away, I always noticed the effect of not using it. So now I always make sure to order more before it is gone!

(3) PCA Skin Care PHaze 13: I have battled melasma for ages and this is the only over the counter product that ever helped fade it. I do buy this one less now because, when I quit taking birth control pills, my melasma finally faded significantly, but I still use it every couple of days just to keep things at bay.

(4) Ole Henriksen Sheer Transformation: This is my go to moisturizer. It includes anti-aging ingredients and skin brighteners. It also has a light feel to it, which works well with my oil skin. I like using it in conjunction with the PCA serum to help lessen hyperpigmentation from melasma.

(5) Peter Thomas Roth Acne Spot Treatment: I have issues with adult acne and this spot treatment works better for me than any other I have tried. So, I buy it over and over again.

(6) Badger Cocoa Butter Lip Balm: I am a lip balm addict, and I test many different kinds, but when I am purchasing, I almost always grab Badger Balms. Their big cocoa butter balms feel great, taste great, and are oversized, so they last a long time. I do have a runner up here as well, Mission Lip Balm, which I repeatedly buy for running. It is a thicker, waxier balm, so it stays on longer and it has SPF 15.

Want to see more? Click through the links below to see what other beauty bloggers regularly repurchase!

Disclosures: Beauty and Fashion Tech at times reviews products provided by a representative of the company. When we do so, we specifically state so. We also use affiliate links. For more, please see the disclosure page

Filed Under: Acne Products, Hair Care, Lip Products, Makeup Wars, Melasma Treatment, Skin Care Tagged With: Badger, Kate Somerville, L'Oreal, Lip Products, Makeup Wars, Melasma Treatment, Mission Skin Care, Ole Henriksen, PCA Skin Care, Peter Thomas Roth, Skin Care

May 7, 2012

Treat Skin Concerns With the Right Ingredients

May 7, 2012 By Carleenp Leave a Comment

30 Days of Beauty, Day 6: Addressing Special Concerns

We all have our own special skin concerns. Below is a list of some of the top ingredients for addressing them. There certainly are many more that could be listed, including newer and fad items, but these are commonly listed treatment actives that have passed the test of time.

The Best Skin Care Treatment Ingredients

There are thousands of beauty products on the market. With so many options available, it is hard to tell which ones deliver on their promises and which ones will not. A good way to determine a product’s effectiveness is to read the ingredients list. The best beauty products will feature some of the following ingredients.

Alpha-Hydroxy Acids: Great for Brightening, Acne, Wrinkles, and Anti-Aging

Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) are a popular ingredient in health and beauty products. They help smooth fine lines and wrinkles, improve the texture and tone of skin and eliminate blemishes. Many anti-aging products contain alpha hydroxyl acids. Glycolic and lactic acid are the most commonly used types of alpha hydroxyl acid. Malic, citric and tartaric acids are other types of AHAs. This ingredient also exfoliates. It removes dead skin cells so that new skin cells can form. Alpha-hydroxy acids also encourage the production of collagen and elastin.

Our Favorites:

The Brazilian Peel: A wonderful once per week exfoliating and anti-aging treatment.
Peter Thomas Roth 10% Glycolic Hydrating Gel: A good overall daily Glycolic serum.

Retinol: A Top Anti-Aging, Anti-Wrinkle Ingredient

Retinol is a derivative of Vitamin A. What makes this ingredient special is its tiny molecular structure. Its small structure gives it its ability to penetrate the outer layers of skin. Retinol facilitates in cell renewal. It is also an antioxidant. Retinol has several other properties that make it a popular ingredient in beauty treatments. It increases the amount of moisture in the skin and treats acne. Retinol is a common ingredient in anti-aging products and topical face treatments.

Our Favorites:

Derma Doctor Poetry In Lotion: A full over the counter strength retinol lotion formulated to be a least irritating as possible.
Roc Retinol Corrextion Wrinkle Resurfacing System: For the budget conscious consumer, this system offers maximum over the counter retinol- something most of the drugstore products fail to deliver on.

Beta-Hydroxy Acids: Perfect for Oily and Acne Prone Skin

Beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs) are another type of hydroxy-acid. While BHAs and AHAs are similar, there are different in one critical area. Beta-hydroxy acids dissolve in oil while alpha-hydroxy acids are water soluble. Because BHAs are oil soluble, they can penetrate pores and exfoliate dead skin cells. This acid is beneficial for people with oily skin. Beta-hydroxy diminishes wrinkles and improve the texture of the skin. It is an acceptable alternative to alpha-hydroxy acid because it is non-irritating to the skin. Salicylic acid is the most commonly used BHA. Beta-hydroxy acid is can be found in skin moisturizers and cleansing pads.

Our Favorite:Peter Thomas Roth Max Complexion Clearing Pads: These pads are great for acne prone skin!

Ascorbic Acid: Brightens and Smoothes

Ascorbic acid, Vitamin C, is an ingredient in many personal care products and cosmetics. There are several other derivatives of Vitamin C; they are not as effective. It is an antioxidant that reduces the effects that exposure to air and sunlight has on the skin. This ingredient helps to stimulate collagen production. It is also a common ingredient found in scar-removal products.

Our Favorites:

Philosophy The MicroDelivery Peel: This Vitamin C peel separates the ascorbic acid for freshness-important because the ingredient quickly becomes unstable and less effective once mixed with liquid and exposed to light.
Lumene Vitamin C Products: Lumene is an affordable brand that makes a number of quality Vitamin C products.

For a mix of gentle natural lactic/glycolic and fruit acids, try this DIY face mask recipe from Sharzad Kiadeh of LuxLyfe:

DIY Cranberry Face Mask:

6 Tablespoons Fresh Cranberries, boiled for 5 minutes in 1 cup of water , Or if you don’t have fresh cranberries you can use 5 tablespoons of 100% cranberry juice.

3 Tablespoons of Plain Yogurt (I used a thick Greek yogurt)

1 Tablespoon of Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1 Tablespoon of Honey

Mix all of these up together, and apply to your face, avoiding the eye area, wait for 15-20 minutes.

WARNING: This will get messy!

Copper Peptide: Firms and Tackles Wrinkles

This ingredient does several things. It stimulates collagen and elastin production and is an antioxidant. Copper peptide also enhances the body’s ability to create tissue. It is an ingredient in skin care products because it leaves the skin firm and soft. Copper peptide seems to help skin achieve these effects faster than other anti-aging products. Another advantage of copper peptides is its ability to heal scars and rid the body of any damaged elastin and collagen. Acne medications, shaving creams, anti-aging skin care, post-surgical and hair regeneration products all contain copper peptides. There are numerous skin care treatments on the market. Many of these products claim to achieve certain results. To know if the product will live up to its claims, it should contain the best ingredients. Buying products that contain strong and effective ingredients will ensure that people spend money on beauty products that deliver.

For Victoria Girard of RevealGreatSkin.com, the combination of copper peptide and LED light therapy really pays off. She says:

“Here is the real magic; once my face is clean, smooth, and renewed I apply a light peptide serum onto my skin and then I sit in front of the two large panels of the DPL Therapy System (a red LED light therapy unit) for 9 minutes. This system is my holy grail of anti aging treatments.”

You can read more about LED light therapy here: Should You Try Home LED Light Therapy?

Our Favorite: Kinerase C8 Peptide Intensive Treatment: One of the standard favorites for peptide treatment.

Kojic Acid: Perfect For Melasma

While hydroquinone is a common ingredient used to tackle hyperpigmentation and melasma, it can cause rebound pigmentation in some and carries a cancer risk concern. It also is banned in many countries, but is still in use in the United States. A natural alternative is Kojic Acid, which treats the problem more gently.

Our Favorite: PCA Skin Haze 13 HQ Free: This is our go to hydroquine free melasma treatment and the best HQ free one we have found after testing many of them.

Aloe Vera Gel: Great for Irritated Skin and Puffy Eyes

Aloe is a natural wonder. It sooths sunburn, or irritated skin. For puffy eyes, it can sooth and depuff them. Try it after face peels too for skin calming relief.

Puffy eyes can also be treated with various home remedies. Cucumber slices placed on the eyes are an old standby, or Alicia Mohr from Things to Cherish suggests the following to depuff eyes faster:

“Use a gel based eye cream and keep it in the refrigerator. Tea bags also work wonders. Chill wet tea bags for 15 to 30 minutes and then place them on your eyes for 5 minutes to depuff.”

You can find Aloe Vera gel at any drugstore or major retailer. We have no favorites among brands as most are nearly identical in quality. This is one where you can pick up whatever is cheapest or on sale!

Day 7 Tomorrow: Try a New Hair Cut or Style.

Filed Under: 30 Days of Beauty, Acne Products, LED Light Therapy, Melasma Treatment, Skin Care Tagged With: 30 Days of Beauty, Acne Treatment, Brazilian Peel, Kinerase, Lumene, Melasma Treatment, PCA Skin Care, Peter Thomas Roth, Philosophy, Skin Care

Aug 13, 2010

Home Microdermabrasion: Personal Microderm Review

August 13, 2010 By Carleenp 4 Comments

Home microdermabrasion can be a rather effective treatment for a variety of skin problems. Microdermabrasion can address melasma (a personal concern of mine), acne, acne scars, fine lines and wrinkles, age spots, and it is good for overall soft skin and brightening. Aside from exfoliating well, dermabrasion removes the dead skin cells through suction, which allows other treatment products to absorb better. I purchased a home microdermabrasion system, the Personal Microderm which I have used a couple of times now. So far, I think it is a keeper and plan to test it more, so watch for a follow up review in a few months. The device costs $179, which is considerably cheaper than having professional treatments done (those often run over $100 per treatment). The device is also now covered and is our top recommendation in our complete home microdermabrasion buyer's guide. You can view that and learn about a number of additional devices here: Home Microdermabrasion Reviews.

Using the Home Microdermabrasion System: The Personal Microderm is incredibly easy to use. Simply plug it in and choose from two types of disks - The blue moderate disk for sensitive skin, or the green coarse disk for tougher skin. These disks also come in two sizes – small for facial areas, and large for body areas. Hold the skin tight and move the device in vertical or horizontal lines across the face without lingering in any one area. The device exfoliates the skin, while creating a suction, so it very much feels like you are vacuuming your face. The treatment can be made gentle by using a blue disk with light pressure, or more aggressive by using a green disk with heavier pressure. Home microdermabrasion treatments initially should be done once each week.

I started with the small blue disk and quickly moved up to the green. I have pretty tough skin and did not feel like I got a good treatment until I moved to the green. Sensitive types will want to stick with the blue though. The small disk works well for much of the face, but I moved to the large disk for my main cheek areas and forehead. I had a bit of difficulty with either size keeping suction on my forehead area, but I eventually got it, and I had no problems anywhere else. It doesn’t take long to treat the entire face—maybe 10 minutes tops.

Effectiveness of the Personal Microderm: In terms of results, I noticed softer skin immediately. For achieving nice soft skin, this is the best home exfoliation that you can get in my opinion. The device is effective at removing dead skin cells, and the suction removes them from your face. In regard to melasma, I did not notice any improvement on my main areas, but I also have only done three treatments. As much as anyone with melasma would like a quick cure, there isn’t really anything that can be done at home that will get rid of melasma or serious hyperpigmentation in that short of a times. I would not expect to see anything noticeable before eight treatments or more. What I did notice in three weeks was a little bit of lightening (we are talking rather tiny here, don't get overly excited) in a new area of pigmentation (those typically lighten easier) and some general improvement in my acne. Although next week I will be posting about how other products have pretty much cured my acne anyway. But the overall skin smoothing and such was pretty impressive even upon the first treatment. I’ll post an update a few months from now on how it works on tougher areas of melasma. I had some success a few years ago with professional microdermabrasion, but it wasn't overwhelming and I wasn't consistent in getting treatment, so I am curious about how the home system will work on that. Regardless I find it a worthwhile investment in terms of general skin care.

After Effects or Side Effects of Home Microdermabrasion: Microdermabrasion can be a bit deceptive in that it feels gentler than it really is, especially with the home microderm device, so start gentle and move up to more aggressive over time. After a treatment, it is normal for your skin to be a bit pink. Because of that, be careful with applying treatment serums immediately after a microdermabrasion treatment. Instead, apply a soothing moisturizer and be sure to wear sunscreen. You should be wearing sunscreen all the time anyway, but Microdermabrasion makes the skin more sensitive to sun, making this even more important, especially if you want to have any hope at treating dark spots, such as melasma.

Recommended Adjunct Products: For those battling melasma, I recommend trying PCA Skin (pHaze 13) Pigment Gel (Hydroquinone version) PCA Skin (pHaze 13) Pigment Gel HQ Free (Hydroquinone free version) as a serum, along with your favorite gentle moisturizer in order to maximize the effect of the microdermabrasion. I personally use DHC White Sunscreen for my oily skin to get moisture, sunscreen and lightening all in one. Anyone fighting wrinkles who like retinoids may like Derma Doctor Poetry in Lotion, although I also recommend caution using a retinol product too close to any given microderm treatment since retinol can also irritate the skin—be especially careful with that if you have sensitive skin. Those with acne might want to try Arcona products. I’ll be raving about those next week!

Related Reviews:

PCA Skin Care Melasma Treatment

DHC White Sunscreen

Derma Doctor Poetry in Lotion

Want it? Buy it!